THE EVERGREEN ON THE HILL

 

A series of essays….

THE NORTHERN RED CARDINAL APPEARS 
AS THE SNOW FLIES AROUND US…

Photo courtesy of acoustimac.com

….as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E Hughes

                                                                    

My memories of spending weekends, summers, and holidays on my grandparent’s farm in northern Indiana was the inspiration for my poem, The Evergreen on the Hill. What a lucky kid I was getting to collect fresh eggs in a basket with grandma, ride with grandpa on his green John Deere as he harvested the acres of planted corn, and build snow forts up on the hill with brothers and cousins and top it all off with lengthy snowball fights. Magical!

Grandma would ask us kids to venture into the fenced-in apple orchard to collect fruit to be baked into a pie for our dessert that evening. Being kids, all around the age of ten and younger, we were always up for this interesting challenge. You see, grandpa kept his prize rams in the apple orchard to feed off fallen fruit and be contained and controlled for most of the year. 

The orchard covered several acres and, for the most part, the rams would ignore us and we were able to collect our fruit and haul the baskets back to grandma with visions of giant slabs of apple pie dancing in our heads. Upon one occasion, however, I remember having to scratch my way up a tree in order to avoid a solid charge by a very angry looking ram. The exhilaration was unforgettable. I will say that the slice of grandma’s pie tasted even better that particular evening.

Summertime on the farm conjures up images of working with the farm animals, getting used to the smells that went along with them, harvesting the garden vegetables that grandma would turn into hearty soups and side dishes, and running through the giant stalks of corn at the end of July back when corn was planted a greater distance apart. Today, this would be impossible due to the higher yield expected from each acre of corn and there’s barely inches between stalks.

The story-and-a-half, clapboard farmhouse was painted white and wore black wooden shutters at each window like exotic jewelry framing each mullioned glass face staring back at us. I loved that house. It sat up on a small hill and was completely surrounded by the narrow, gravel drive that was an extension of the two-track lane that outlined the front corn field to one side and the apple orchard on the other side as we turned off from the paved country road on our long drive back to the house.

In the summer the hill served as our very own mountain. All of us kids would roll down it, gathering grass stains on our clothing along the way, until we came to a stop at the gravel drive, climb the mountain, and repeat the thrill once again. In the winter, dressed like Michelin figures, we’d roll the snow into giant balls of various sizes after a heavy snowfall and create our snowman army that would protect our snow fort when we were inside the warm, cozy farmhouse. Stretching high above all of our activity was the trusty evergreen tree standing so proud next to the house and visible from the living room windows.

Here is my tribute to our evergreen soldier standing tall and proud high above us no matter which month, holiday, birthday celebration, or reason we employed to gather beneath her:

                                                    The Evergreen on the Hill

                                                                           Over

                                                                          barren 

                                                                     winter fields

                                                            snow billows and dances.

                                                                        Swirling

                                                               across the gravel lane

                                                      the wind embraces the clapboard 

                                                                      farmhouse:

                                                               black shutters shiver, 

                                                             overhead wires     sway.

                                                    And I see     when  standing on the hill

                                                      beside the majestic evergreen tree

                                  a single cardinal     seeking refuge     from the biting wind.

                             His snow laden perch     vibrates as he     gently shifts his feathered

                                          weight     and sprinkles      the world     In white.

                                                   A single pinecone     photobombs

                                          my crimson friend     offering a new layer to an

                                already perfect scene.     Often, as greenery and the exotic

                           colors of nature fade,     the red cardinal     appears     as the snow

                      flies around us     serving as another     reminder     of its power     of life    

                                                             and the winter season.

                                                                    The Beginning

                                                                    The Beginning

                                                                    The Beginning

             A poem by Jacqueline Hughes, 12/04/‘23

The Christmas Holidays were always my favorite time of year on the farm. There was so much going on at any given moment. Grandma would have the fresh-cut tree, sequestered for years somewhere on the property and chosen first-hand by grandpa to cut down, decorated with what seemed like a thousand colorful baubles collected and gifted throughout the years. The red velvet tree skirt stretched out under the pine landscape but was mostly hidden under beribboned packages she’d been wrapping for weeks. 

The generous aroma of freshly baked cookies, cakes, and golden pies sent our tastebuds into a frenzy of delight with the anticipation of a large ham, stuffed turkey, and roasted chicken yet to come. My mom and aunts were always there to help slice, dice, and mash but always under the close scrutiny of grandma. It was her kitchen and she never let any of us forget it. 

Being a grown-up now for the past many, many years, I take genuine delight in knowing that I’ve incorporated most of these fond memories into my own lifestyle, with my own family. Their dad and I have always taught our girls to be curious, question everything if it helps you to understand something better, and then blend it (or not) into your own life. Be free like the wind! Walk between the cornstalks and get lost—there’s always a way out if you look hard enough. 

Taste the food first before deciding if you like it or not. Walk and play in the giant puddles while the rain pats you on the head and saturates your clothes on a warm summer afternoon. Smile and laugh as often as possible. Build snow forts with your children under the watchful eyes of snowmen. Observe the  cardinal seeking refuge in the majestic evergreen tree and be reminded of its power, of life, and the winter season in our lives we have yet to experience, but know we must—one day.

A very Merry Christmas to all of you! And, may the New Year find you more curious than ever before!

Copyright © 2023 by Jacqueline E Hughes

All rights reserved

A BIRTHDAY CARD FOR MY CURIOUS DAUGHTER

 

A series of essays….

THE JOY OF GIVING IS VERY SATISFYING — WHETHER IN
SMALL BOXES OR LARGE LIFE LESSONS

….as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E Hughes

Blessed are the curious, for they shall have adventures. A remarkably true statement as far as I am concerned, believing in the fact that the entire world is our oyster which means that we can achieve anything we wish in life or go anywhere because we have the opportunity or ability to do so. Often, having the means to do so can be the challenging factor, but if there is a will—there is always a way. Being inventive, patient, and true to your commitment, in my personal experience, will get you anywhere you’d like to go!

But remember…life can become complicated. Pace yourself. You will know when it is the right time for everything to take place.

When we do arrive at our particular destination with so many adventures to follow, it is not uncommon to feel the spirit of this place embrace us, guide us, and watch over us as we open-up to all of the possibilities ahead. 

After achieving a higher education at Michigan State University and committing to a lifelong relationship with the love of my life, we brought our first daughter into this world when we were twenty-five years old. Alexandria (Ali) was everything and more than we expected to feel and experience from being first-time parents. Partially due to the fact that Dan held a degree in Building Construction Management, we were able to build our first home, a small, gray-sided Cape Cod, in Eaton Rapids, Michigan, and bring our newborn home to her nursery with all of the trimmings and comforts we could provide for her.

By the time Ali turned three, we decided to fly, as a family, to Chicago for a long weekend and provide her with this brief experience of flying and traveling, even if it was only between Lansing and the Windy City! She enjoyed every minute of it, too. And, everyone fell in love with this adorable little blondie with the perpetual smile on her face. 

We visited museums, walked along North Michigan Avenue (the Magnificent Mile), introduced her to that side of Lake Michigan in nearly every way possible before boarding the plane back to Lansing. 

I won’t kid myself…that adventure was as much for our benefit as it was for hers. It was the beginning of her experience to ‘all things possible’ and initially opened up Ali’s vein of curiosity, the potential for doing more as she grew older, and helped to create a need and desire for travel that would last her a lifetime of memories and joy! And, as I recall, shopping at Water Tower Place with an elongated adventure through FAO Schwarz, the iconic toy store for kids of all ages, was well worth the trip to Chicago.

Both of our daughters never hesitated to board a flight, drive anywhere in a car, ride in a train, or jump on a boat in order to enjoy a new adventure. Now that they both have families of their own, the spirit of adventure holds even higher stakes as they have introduced their children to the amazing world of travel and discovery. I am so proud that the opportunity to travel the world exists for all of them. When I was quite young, traveling to different places and experiencing new cultures only existed through books and a fertile imagination. But, there was plenty of time to plan some of my future itineraries and be able to watch them unfold before me when the time was right.

Today, our beautiful daughter, wife, and mother, Alexandria, celebrates another birthday. We could not be more proud of her and all of her accomplishments throughout the years. Yes, she is an ambitious and successful career women who also knows how to maintain a fairly smooth and healthy balance between work and the well-being of her family of four. And, the wonderful part is that she married someone who had devoted his post college life to backpacking around and discovering Europe before moving down to the Orlando area (Walt Disney World) to work at Disney’s Wide World of Sports where Eric and Ali first met.

So, blessed are the curious, blessed are the young at heart no matter how old they are, blessed are those who deliberately choose to become enlightened both physically and mentally by immersing themselves into a different culture and land. And, blessed are the poets and philosophers who understand that ‘the human body was never meant for sitting behind desks or walking paved streets, or maneuvering tight corners,’ to paraphrase John O’Donahue — Irish Poet & Philosopher.

John O’Donahue said, When longing dies, creativity ceases. The arduous task of being a human is to balance longing and belonging so that they work with and against each other to ensure that all the potential and gifts that sleep in the clay of the heart may be awakened and realized in this one life.

Blessed are those who encourage others to take the forest path and contemplate the trees and birdsong. Blessed are those who feel the sand between their toes and reflect upon  the waves rolling in off the surface of the ocean. And, blessed are those who mentor the young in the natural beauty that exists in this world and teaches them to seek it out, wherever they may travel. May the young who listen intently to them learn to pass this wisdom down to others as they themselves grow and mature.

Well, Ali, I do believe that Dad and I did our very best while you were young and most impressionable. May your curiosity always be kept alive and strong and take you places you’ve only dreamed about. Today, on your Special Day, I wish you Peace, Joy, Good Health, Happiness, and more Love than you’ve ever believed possible! Happy Birthday my Beautiful Daughter. Stay kind. Remain curious, and always enjoy life to the fullest.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ALI!!!

Copyright © 2023 by Jacqueline E Hughes 

All rights reserved

 

LOVE OF FAMILY, FRIENDS, DOGS, AND OTHER WONDERFUL THINGS

 

A series of essays….

BEING THANKFUL FOR EVERYTHING THAT 
APPEARS RIGHT AND BEING ABLE TO
CHANGE THAT WHICH IS DEFINITELY WRONG

….as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E Hughes

I am thankful for and hopeful in my belief that the war between Israel and Hamas will be declared neutral and inviolable by positive political arrangements between or through level headed leaders and people who can manipulate the bullies on either side. 

On November 21, 2023, via the key negotiator, Qatar, a deal has been laid out for a four-day pause in fighting and the release of at least 50 women and children held hostage in Gaza. This is a major diplomatic breakthrough nearly seven weeks in the making. As I say, I am hopeful that relief will, finally, come to the Palestinian people and the Israeli hostages will all be returned to their loved ones. I am grateful that people are still able to talk, attempt to work things out, and negotiate through common sense and logic.

I am eternally thankful for such leaders and beautiful souls as we have seen in Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the sixth president of Ukraine. His courage, love of country and her people, and mental strength coupled with unimaginable determination has fought hatred, civil abominations, and blatant acquisition of Ukrainian land for going on two years. 

Unfortunately, this war has become non-negotiable through reasonable talks with key negotiators. This war has the backing of a power-hungry leader of a, largely brainwashed nation whom Vladimir Putin has placed fear and retaliation in the forefront and egregious amounts of monetary rewards for those who stand by him in Moscow. No amount of talk or negotiations or common sense or love of life on Putin’s part will resolve this conflict. We can only hope that the military aid to President Zelenskyy, Ukraine, and her soldiers will make a difference and the strength and courage of all Ukrainien people will prevail.

Sitting around the round maple, four-sided, drop leaf table in my parent’s large dining room early afternoon on Thanksgiving Day, I can still hear the tinkling of glasses and that of familiar voices vying for attention with stories and anecdotes from the past year. My fingers gently outlined the intricate tablecloth pattern in swirls of dark brown and orange on a sea of aged beige linen that helped to shield the soft maple from spills and other calamities. With a matching napkin on my lap, it was time for either Dad or Grandpa to say grace and encourage all of us to be thankful for the bounty before us.

How many early Thanksgiving Thursday mornings has Mom gotten up in the deeply shadowed hours before dawn to prep Tom, Dick, or Harry (names my brothers and I chose to call our turkey—Tom jr. If it were under ten pounds) by washing, seasoning, filling its cavity with homemade sausage stuffing, slathering its skin with real butter for browning, and placing it in the hot oven to sleep for up to five hours or so? The rich aroma would spiral up to the second floor bedrooms only to find the rest of us asleep but dreaming of the feast she was preparing for all of us.

So, by the time grace was being said by our patriarch in the wood paneled dining room, our exhausted Mom was quite anxious to bring out (George that year) the golden, plattered turkey to have Dad carve at the table, leaving most of us wishing for more than two drumsticks! 

After the power-show between man and cutlery, I would help Mom bring out from the adjoining kitchen steaming bowls, plates, baskets of dinner rolls, saucers of butter, chilled sauces, divided dishes of varied pickles and olives, and a gravy boat that couldn’t sail but provided us with the fabulous homemade gravy she would claim from the rich turkey drippings in the pan. Mom was a Master Chef feeding her family of six throughout the year, but she was awarded five Michelin stars on Thanksgiving Day!

Now came the moment of truth; the time to expel from our lips the true, unhomogenized reasons for being thankful for at least one circumstance in our lives. We’d either had a whole year to think about it, or only a few minutes because, with all of the enticing food placed before our eyes, the stomach ruled over the heart at that particular moment. 

Icy fear crept over me. Was I going to be totally original in my decree of gratitude or would someone else steal my thunder first and make me think that much harder? With our feast chilling more and more with every second, we began with Grandma and worked our way around the table. I knew I was being selfish, but I preferred having my turkey and mashed potatoes warm, if not hot.

My younger brother Larry’s response was all that sat between me and allowing the world to hear my words of thanksgiving. I am thankful for all of this great food and just want to eat!, he proclaimed while, hastily, buttering a dinner roll and given a ‘side-eye’ by Dad. There. He was done. My turn, finally. I am thankful for being loved by all of you, every day!, I blurted out. And, I truly meant it with all of my heart because being loved and giving love back, even as a small child, has always been my motivating factor. 

Last, but certainly not least (as the saying goes), it was Mom’s turn to wrap this enlightening tradition up in a sweet, pastel bow and then get this party started. With tired eyes but a red-lipstick smile that stretched across her pretty face, she said, I am thankful for being able to pacify your hunger today and very grateful to see us all together as one family, sitting side-by-side, ignoring our differences, and delighting in each other’s presence. Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you, near and far, with all of my love and best hopes for a brighter and loved-filled future….!

Copyright © 2023 by Jacqueline E Hughes

All rights reserved

DON’T DIE WONDERING

 

A series of essays….

THE VALUE OF HAVING A GOOD CONSTITUTION

                      Image by artist Pedro X. Molina

….as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E Hughes

Life consists of many different levels of happiness, sadness, loneliness, surprises, with accolades bestowed upon worthy recipients in all fields, shapes, and sizes! Our heads and minds are being spun out of control by so much activity at any given time that, if given a title, vertigo may suit a situation, perfectly. So, I ask, when is the best time to throw in the towel and allow the brain to relax? Or, in today’s world—would that action even be wise given the intense pressure we live under?

Michael Langenmayr, of the Daily Kos, recently wrote an article entitled: "We are sleepwalking towards authoritarianism." I believe he hit it right on the head. Just as we remain in deep disbelief and denial of his four years in office with all of his lying and cheating in order to monetarily line his own pockets with ‘the people’s hard earned gold,’ his long-term plan to undermine the U.S. Constitution, our government, her citizens, and Democracy (with a big ‘D’) itself remains in constant motion.  Always moving forward towards his intended goals, he remains the venomous snake slithering in the tall grass.

We have handled his past actions with kid gloves—and continue to do so today under the title of ‘being fair,’ ‘after all, he was our president,’ and, ‘he’s a human being and a citizen of our nation and deserves justice.’ I ask you, does he, really? Does he deserve what I would call ‘special treatment’ after pitting us against one another and dividing our nation in two? I ask that he be treated, within our court system, as any other citizen of the United States would be treated. I ask for justice for all of us who have had our lives disrupted by this unethical and highly despicable man. 

“It doesn’t echo ‘Mein Kamph,’” says fascism expert and Yale professor, Jason Stanley, as drumpf compares political rivals to vermin, “This is textbook ‘Mein Kampf.’” Evidently, far from being a banned book in the very open and liberal environment he grew-up in, Mein Kamph served as Drumph’s bible, text book, and bedside reading material incorporating his pledge to “root out the Communists, Marxists, Fascists, and Radical Left Thugs that live like vermin.”

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, the definition of vermin is: wild animals believed to be harmful to crops, farm animals or game and carry disease; parasitic worms or insects; people perceived as despicable and as causing problems for the rest of society. I ask you now, who, as any given individual with or without the power to impact minds and change the flow of democracy to suit his own agenda, spits in the face of innocent immigrants seeking a better life, discontinues programs meant solely to benefit the people, and forces his will on vulnerable politicians convincing them that his path is the righteous one? 

It seems to be a point of fact, given the past nearly eight years, that to even attempt to understand this lowly human being and what he says and does, one must take the words he spits out of his puckered mouth as the truth about himself, instead. When he speaks ill of others, one must turn the tables with the knowledge that he is speaking about what he has done, is currently doing, or will be doing in the future in order to become the leader of his newly formed authoritarian regime. He has always been demoralizing and self-serving.

His point of repetitiveness is a tactic that has been used throughout the ages to teach or convince others about anything you’d like them to believe. Placing an audio tape of my French lessons under my pillow and listening to its content over and over again may have helped me on my French quiz the following day, but it still remains a form of brainwashing. This is why repetitive chants of ‘lock her up’ can be so effective at bringing crowds of people together as one while convincing them that to lock her up is the best plan to follow.

Can you imagine how beautiful it would be to channel all of the energy he places in hate and fear into good deeds and programs that would benefit all of humankind? This is what President Biden has been doing throughout his presidency, as well as working on filling the ‘dark void’ created by his predecessor. 

But, if we truly are ‘sleepwalking towards authoritarianism,’ are we, the people, not half of the problem? Have zombie-like weaknesses inhibited our own stance on saving democratic ideals while allowing this long term plan of chaos and self-importance to become a reality? Do we truly believe that good will overtake evil even if we choose to sit back and do absolutely nothing about it?

Once again, the press is, effectively, trying to ‘even the playing field’ and stir the simmering pot of hate and fear by consciously pitting President Biden and close family members against the unraveling of our nation by a man whose criminal record and deeds (and those of his close family members) rival those of all of the mob bosses that have preceded him! 

These are not normal times. The things happening in this country right now are anything but making us feel normal. The standards by which we’ve come to know and respect in our lifetime are being dragged through the mud on a daily basis by thugs who idolize power over country and push all limits in order to grasp that power. Why are we allowing ourselves to ‘sleepwalk towards authoritarianism’ and refuse to wake up to the fact that all of this is actually happening? There are many people out there who want to participate in this ‘new regime,’ this Mein Kamph manifesto of one of history’s greatest antisemites and symbols of pure hate; the man that Donald idolizes and outlines his own political ideology and future plans for the United States of America!

Please ask yourself if we can afford to allow any of this to happen. Have we become so complacent and satisfied with the current situation that we are unconcerned with changing it? Drumph is attempting to change our lives by trashing America and her ideals—and is succeeding just by being able to run for president even after he’s been indicted for crimes against the democracy we hold so dear. He has not once shown any interest in making people’s lives better. Let’s face the facts. It all comes down to a choice between fascism and democracy and which one you and I will ultimately choose.

Are we capable of turning a blind eye to what is happening around us or will we be a part of the noise around us? Our job within the next year is to make the noise work for us! We have to filter all of the noise that is currently surrounding us, extract the positive, and take it ten steps further by letting our voices be heard, loud and clear. 

We need a good storyteller in the White House. Someone who will represent the Biden Administration, the Democratic Party, in a positive manner while teaching the entire American public, not just those of us who wish to keep our country thriving under democracy, about our nation’s history, current status, as well as setting a future for her people that holds all lives valuable, healthy, and strong. We need a storyteller to point out the achievements of those working hard to make the economy improve, provide healthcare for all, offer new jobs to the jobless, give hope for the future instead of trashing America, and make life that much better day after day. Let’s find our storyteller!

I am only one person who has lived long enough to see the imbalances of good versus evil and understands the differences between them. Who am I to give references on how to improve life for all of us, you might ask. I am an American citizen who loves her country and will not die left wondering if we were strong enough to thwart this threatening evil brought on by the power hungry liars, cheaters, and narcissists of this world. Let’s wake up and stop our ‘sleepwalking towards authoritarianism!’ Become active and learn to make lots and lots of good noise.

Copyright © 2023 by Jacqueline E Hughes

All rights reserved